Ireland must sort out its own back garden if we’re to “crack energy” – Doherty

Greater ambition is required from Government in getting renewable energy producers connected to Ireland’s national grid, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

The call comes amid COP28 negotiations in Dubai; a summit described by EU Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra as “the beginning of the end for fossil fuels”.

Senator Regina Doherty said: “There’s a long list of items on the agenda at COP28, and on all our minds is the fact that – as our Climate Minister, Eamon Ryan, said this week – Ireland will have to go faster and further to reduce carbon emissions exponentially in the coming years. We’re hearing ambitious talk from negotiating teams in Dubai around building greener economies and phasing out fossil fuels, particularly in the developing world.

“86% of the world’s emissions come from our sources of energy, and Minister Ryan wrote in an op-ed in The Journal this week that “if we crack energy, we crack climate”. Actions speak louder than words, and if we’re going to “crack energy” and become a leader in climate action, Ireland needs to sort out its own back garden before preaching to the developing world about making the switch away from fossil fuels.

“To my mind, there are simple, common-sense steps we can take to not only incentivise renewables in this country, but to make a significant leap towards cleaner, greener energy. We’re not tapping into them and I’m not sure why.

“One of the biggest challenges for prospective renewable energy producers is actually getting themselves hooked up to the national grid.

“If a business wants to set up a solar farm to generate clean energy, they need access to the national grid which is operated by Eirgrid. Currently, there is only one annual application window which opens every September and closes in October.

“If you’re lucky to make this short window of opportunity, it can then take up to 12 months to get approval for your application. Why is there such a limited window of access, and such delayed decision making? We must make this process more efficient and time-effective.

“My question for Minister Ryan would be: why are we making things difficult for people who want to produce their own clean energy, from renewable sources, on their own land, in Ireland?

“While we’re scoping out green ideas during COP week, I’m calling on the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to make improvements to this process and to do more to help people and businesses do the right thing”, concluded Senator Doherty.